Feeling Funky?

What can you do to make yourself feel more successful NOW even if you feel you aren't, even if you are so far away from where you want to be?

Whenever I was down, I used to think I just needed to wait it out. I used to think I needed to dig down and understand what my soul was trying to tell me.

I suppose itâ€™s a fine line. You want to dig down and extract the jewels available there, but you also don't want to get buried alive. In terms of Universal Law, being down, depressed, feeling bad, will only attract more of the same feelings. In metaphysical thinking, it is more beneficial to change your thought patterns to something 'feel good'. This will attract more good feelings towards us.

You really need to decide for yourself what you want to do with where youâ€™re at. As I said, itâ€™s a fine line.
Acknowledge where youâ€™re at, but donâ€™t dwell too long down there. If you canâ€™t mine a gem from there quickly,
cannot find anything positive down there, get out. When in doubt, follow the Gamblerâ€™s philosophy, "Ya gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to run."

So where do we start? Here are a few suggestions for when you're feeling down and not-so-successful. The most point is to get started. Doing something, anything, will send a message to the Universe of your intentions, and more begets more.

Exercise. I know, I know. It may be the last thing on your mind, however, doing anything physical, even slightly so, will improve your mood incredibly. The olâ€™ endorphins kick in eventually (they canâ€™t help it) and chemical changes occur within our bodies which, in turn, elevate our mood. Even a 10-15 minute walk around the block will do wonders. Look at it this way, too. If the walk itself doesnâ€™t elevate your mood, at least you can feel good about simply moving your body. A small success is still a success. A number of small successes increases your feeling of success exponentially.

Meditate. Connect with the Source/Universe/God/Higher Power. Most people are aware of a power outside of themselves overseeing our lives. Whatever you call it or feel it to be, there is something all knowing, other than our smaller ego selves. Connecting with the Source, getting quiet with ourselves, changes our thought patterns.

Think a good thought. Go to a good place in your mind. Imagine a good place where you can return to time and again. When you feel down, imagine that good place, go in, feel good, and get out. Visit often.

Declutter your space. Cleaning your space clears your mind. It also sends a message to the Universe that you are open for more, that you are capable of taking care of what you have and youâ€™re ready for greater abundance.

Journal - get your feelings out. Just write down whatever is on your mind. If you want your journaling to be really effective, continue with the next ideaâ€¦

Be grateful. This should probably be at the top of the list. Being grateful for something, ANYTHING, in your life has the power to magically lift you out of your funk. Make a list of just 3 things you are grateful for. See what happens.

Read - pick up something that youâ€™ve been meaning to read for awhile. Take a look at your community newspaper, connect with your world. Learn something new.

Pick up a hobby - do something that you completely lose yourself in. For me itâ€™s sewing and other needlecrafts.

Cleanse yourself. Physically - take a bath, shower, wash your face. Cleanse yourself any other way you feel fits. Light some incense with the intention of cleansing your space, your spirit.

Go see a movie. You get to sit in the dark and think of nothing but whatâ€™s on the screen in front of you.

Forgive. Yourself and anyone you are holding anything against. Just let it go.

Create a positive vision for your life. Imagine, dream.
And dream big. Record your vision in a journal, on an index card and keep it handy. Then revisit it when you need a reminder or boost. Your vision should be positive
and worded positively. More importantly, it should make you feel very, very good.

Any and all of these can get you out of a funk. The common denominator in all of these is action. Taking action to move you away from your funky feeling is what will move things along. If you choose to stay in your funk, recognize it as your choice, and take full responsibility for it. Donâ€™t make the mistake of victimizing yourself. Nobody else is responsible for how you feel. We create our own thoughts and choose how we want to feel about external events. So, if you really want to feel down and stay down, okay, your choice. But know there are alternatives. We just need to reprogram ourselves to think of them instead of wallowing in our funk.

Sue Dyson, a stay at home mom to three children and one large dog, publishes SuccessfulMama Ezine, offering down to earth tips and resources to help moms balance personal goals with the craziness of motherhood. Visit http://www.SuccessfulMama.com